April 11, 2012

Rangers meet with Josh Hamilton's agent

The Rangers continue to pursue new contracts with other players they consider core members of the team. Before announcing Ian Kinsler's five-year, $75 million contract Wednesday afternoon, club brass met with Mike Moye, the agent for center fielder Josh Hamilton.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Hamilton hadn’t spoken with Moye about the meeting, which a source said included general manager Jon Daniels and owner Bob Simpson.

“I know they want to keep guys, but you just don’t know what they’ll do,” said Hamilton, who can become a free agent after this season. “I’m glad they’re trying to keep the core group together. That’s very important.”

Moye also represents David Murphy. Hamilton said that he played host to Moye on Tuesday night, but they didn't delve too deeply into contract talk.

Hamilton was among the players the Rangers had hoped to negotiate with during the off-season, but talks were put on hold after Hamilton suffered a relapse with alcohol three weeks before spring training.

The Rangers typically don't like to negotiate during a season to avoid distractions, but Daniels has said recently that he's willing to do it so long the talks stay private.

Simpson said in January, on the night Yu Darvish was introduced, that he hopes to keep Hamilton and preferred re-signing Hamilton to purusing free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder.